Vol. 19, No.1 THE ORE.- BIN January 1 957 Portland, Oregon STATE OF OREGON DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES Head Office: 1069 State Office Bldg., Portland 1, Oregon Telephone: CApitol 6-2161, Ext. 488 State Governing Board Staff Mason L. Bingham, Chairman, Portland R. E. Corcoran Geologist Niel R. Allen Grants Pass L. L. Hoagland Assayer & Chemist Austin Dunn Baker Ralph S. Mason Mining Engineer T. C. Matthews Spectroscopist Hollis M. Dole, Director H. G. Schl icker Geologist M. L. Steere Geologist R. E. Stewart Geologist Field Offices 2033 First Street, Baker 239S.E. "H" Street, Grants Pass N. S . Wagner, Field Geologist Max Schafer, Field Geologist H. C. Brooks, Field Geologist Len Ramp, Field Geologist *************************** OREGON'S MINERAL INDUSTRY IN 1956 By Ralph S. Mason* The year 1956 saw the value of Oregon's mineral production cI imb to an all-time high of almost $35,000,000, a 10 percent gain over 1955 which in turn was a record year. Increased capacity of two of the cement plants and installation of additional furnaces at the Hanna nickel plant were largely responsible for the increase. The prel iminary figures released by the U. S. Bureau of Mines reveal that in 1956 every mineral commodity produced in the State had a greater value than the preceding year. Of perhaps equal importance to the State, and particularly to those areas where new mining and metallurgical industries are locating, is the impact of steady employment and the need for related services and supplies brought about through increased mining activities. The trend in Oregon, as it is else­ where, is toward larger and larger operations adequately financed and de­ signed for many years of operation. A prel iminary survey by the Department of the number of people deriving their living from mining and metallurgical industries in the State indicates that the figure is in excess of 3000. To this figure should be added those indirectly connected on a full-time basis such as trucking firms and others providing special services. * Mining Engineer, State of Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries. STATE OF OREGON DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES ~ MINERAL INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS ,,"... ~ "-, i 1956 I L • --·:-i·-.......... • I • • , •• r J ~ • . , • ~ • --. • • ',- ">CD on. _ ",' ,,_ " • ·· ' ,_ I'· '. I" " Ii. , '• • -' . t"":"; ---- - AI I • I , o . • ••• i I ( r _ii " • • ·... , -.~- r.;..u.,.. -f:~ .;: \ . , ~, - h.-- t /'''' I Co :.....,J i ot=AIo ,_ 'I \ ~ . l \ ( (l-' i ' '-. I ~ -..( . ;,'" • L . l .. I -" _ .-'-- • • , "l l , .... , r ~-- , "_"'~ .. -n .-_-. - ! ." \ 1------,c .. 1 ( • , • • '/ C o., ___. ,) . ... • - L ;. ....... --- -- J. \ ... t· . " - - I' --..,." 'i ~+ -"-'- -,;, ....... ~' ,;.."' . r I.. .. , ... ; • . .• -., _ , I II ,-,'I ~- / --, t 1--' - '-, " ., - . ___ ..l_~ 1 ---r-.. • • . -;_ . ~_ , . ..... -t- \ . _, " -- '- '-), Co I ... ( . ' / ." I ~ I r -_'··. ···· · -'-' • ..., !J • • •• • • u . ·-L-L i-:-~: ' 7. I ; -, \ "'" ..L ____. _____ L.~L- , ,-''-{ j I I , I .. ---..... , ••• i • • • • • . : !" •• • --'. j < i UOl 1g / '" I-I I I " I . "i . I ~ I /~ .-- , , I '" , . c ....., . ./:;, ._.~ . _ . ­ ~ ,---...... ~ ~- ~.+.<,. -- . - --'- 0" .... 0.. ,_ 'liT' ' ''''''' I • • • • , , . , • I .- ,.,1 .... '""'. -­ I , , • • " • t I • • ';, \ Co I , • o , I ... , . I , I \ '0 - I- -----, January THE ORE.- BIN 3 1957 Major Developments Coal. Pacific Power & Light Company has been pushing rapidly ahead with exploration of the Eden Ridge coal deposits and feasibility studies for a steam-electric generating plant in the Coos County area since the public announcement of its investigations (see The Ore.-Bin, August 1956). The mine-mouth plant would be teamed with a hydroelectric development on the South Fork of the Coqui lie River to combine steam and hydro generation. Appl ications have been filed with both the Federal Power Commission and the Oregon Hydroelectric Com­ mission for preliminary permits to investigate feasibility of the hydro phases. Core drill ing was conducted through the fall and winter to establ ish the extent of the sub­ bituminous grade coal deposits and depth, continuity, and attitude of the seams. Six drilling rigs working two shifts each were in the area through the fall and most of. the winter. Sixteen holes have been completed and 10,484 linear feet of drilling logged. Geological studies based on the core data and laboratory analyses and firing tests on the coal samples are under way. Studies directed at the most economic methods of mining and location of the steam plant have included inspection tours in western Pennsylvania coal fields, and visits to mines and cleaning plants located near steam electric pl.ants. Drill crews and geologists are housed during the winter at a camp establ ished near the location because of the difficulty of access to the area from Powers, the nearest community. The company has financed the installation of four stream-gauging stations by the U. S. Geo­ logical Survey. Company representatives also are working closely with the fish and wildlife agencies of the State. Mercury. Three new furnaces to handle mercury ore went into operation in Oregon during the year. At the Bretz mine in southern Malheur County, Arentz-Comstock Mining Venture completed an operating agreement with Shawano Development Corporation to con­ struct a treatment plant. Shawano had previously completed some exploratory drill ing on the property. Stripping of overburden began in April and plant construction was started in August. On December 1, a 150-ton flotation plant and retort went into operation. At the Black Butte mine in Lane County, Mercury & Chemicals Corporation fired up a lOO-ton retort early in November and at year's end was operating around the clock. Two shifts a day are working in the mine. A new raise from the 900 to the 1100 levels was completed .and ore was coming from both levels. In Douglas County, the Buena Vista mine was reported to be in production late in the year. Considerable exploration work had been done at the mine in the prev ious 12 months. A 50-ton furnace was reconditioned and other improvements made to the surface plant. At the Horse Heaven mine in Jefferson County, Cordero Mining Company operated a 25-ton rotary furnace for 10~ months during 1956. Ore was obtained from old pillars in the mine and from an open pit. Exploration work was also being carried on underground in an effort to extend the ore body. The Horse Heaven mine has been one of Oregon's large producers with a total of approximately 16,200 flasks produced to date. The other major mercury producer in the State during the year was the Bonanza mine operated by the Bonanza Oil & Mine Corporation in Douglas County. Aside from some lost time due to to winter storms, the mine operated continuously. Shaft sinking to the 1230 level was carried on. Approximately half of the quicksilver produced came from a newly installed retort. Production at the Bonanza dates from about 1865, and by 1939 it was the second largest producer in the United States. Some exploration work was also carried on by Bonanza at the nearby Nonpareil property during the year. 4 STATE DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES vol.19 no. 1 Exploration work was carried on at eight other quicksilver properties in 1956. The Axehandle mine in Crook County, idle for a number of years, was leased by the International Engineering & Mining Company which started exploration work.late in the year. The Digmore Claims in southern Lake County were being developed by John and Weyland Rousch, who reported discovery of a large low-grade deposit. Oregon Uranium Corporation moved a re­ tort onto a prospect at Glass Mountain in northern Lake County, and the S. and S. Mining Company continued to explore and do a small amount of retorting at a property in the same general area. In April fhe Uranic & Strategic Minerals Company announced plans to driJi on a prospect at Vale Butte in Malheur Cou~ty. H. K. Riddle was exploring a prospect at Hope Butte in northern Malheur County. In Harney County, Oregon Drilling & Mining Co. leased several prospects near Fields and some drilling was reported under way late in the year. Chester and E. W. Kubl i acquired the Steamboat Cinnabar No. 1 prospect (formerly the Curl prospect) in southern Jackson County in September and began exploration work. The Defense Minerals Exploration Administration had two active contracts with mercury producers in the State during the year. Bonanza Oil & Mine Corporation extended its shaft to the 1230 level and did some development and exploration work on the 830 level with DMEA assistance, and H. K. Riddle explored the Jordan mine in Malheur County. Eight other DMEA contracts were being processed ot the end of the year, six of them for mercury exploration, one for chromite, and one for mercury and uranium. Mercury production in 1956 amounted to 1875 flasks having an average value of $260 per flask for a totol of $487,500. The all-time record for the State was attained in 1940 when 9,043 flasks having a value of $1,599,436 were produced by 20 mines. Average value per flask in 1940 was $176.86. Ten years later, in 1950, when the price had slipped to $81.26 per flask, Oregon production had dwindled to 5 flasks, all of which came from the Amity mine in Crook County. Electro-process industries. One of the most encouraging developments in Oregon's mining and metallurgical field in recent years has been the rapid growth of the electro­ metallurgical industry. Starting with the Reynolds ' aluminum reduction plant at Troutdale during World War", the industry now embraces such diverse products as calcium carbide, ferrosil icon, ferromanganese, sil icon, aluminum sil icon, ferronickel, titanium, and zirconium. Titanium and zirconium production are newcomers to Oregon's metal industry. At Albany, Wah Chang Corporation was nearing completion of a zirconium reduction plant which, in conjunction with its facilities leased from the federal government, will produce 350,000 pounds of zirconium sponge per year.